Ever wondered how the Casio MT-54 keyboard saved the universe? The ever enigmatic Casionova has the dirt. Catch him and his band AutoChord {CasioTony and Ms Cassie O} and you’ll learn this and more, with their hilarious performed history of Casio keyboards.
Now playing at the Melbourne Fringe Festival, someday soon near you.
 what was your Primal Casio Moment?</strong><br />
I was into Severed Heads and knew they used a ‘sampler’ – I bought the only one I could afford, the little Casio SK-1 for $100 in 1986. I sold newspapers to pay for it.</p>
<p><strong>How have your Casio keys aided your journey to ‘Advanced Electronic Folk Music’?</strong><br />
One word – AutoChord. Anyone can rock out with autochord!</p>
<p><strong>Which Casio is your prized fancy?</strong><br />
Impossible to pick one! Top three are: the DG-10 guitar, a guitar with casio sounds and rhythms – it’s not quite a guitar and not a keyboard, my circuit bent SK-1 never fails to surprise me with sounds and though it isn’t a Casio my strap on Commodore64 synth is the ultimate bass machine.</p>
<p><strong>And a Casio-board with riddims u ain’t used yet? ( which keybored wood u love to have ? )</strong><br />
There are a few, the MT-400v which is almost an analogue synth, the really early Casio organs, the VA-10 that has a vocoder and there’s a Casio that has tape deck in it. Of course there is the DH – digital horn – a sax with a speaker in the bell!</p>
<p><strong>With so much old gear, a lot can go wrong. Worst gig disaster?</strong><br />
A gig isn’t a gig without a keyboard going down, worst has been accidently knocking a volume control and blowing up a really big PA. My DG guitar caught on fire once but alas it wasn’t on stage!<br />
Worst gigs are usually because of vile promoters, I have had the plug pulled on me twelve times!</p>
<p><strong>And so much can go just right. Gig magic 4 Casionova?</strong><br />
Would have to be playing straight after Miss Kitten and the Hacker at the Prince – so much pressure but the crowd was lovely and it is impossible to imagine how cool old home keyboards through an enormous PA can be! Though to be perfectly honest it was in Helsinki in 2001, but that was more after the gig…</p>
<p><strong>What can u tell us about rumours that involving nails and tables at Industrial night clubs?</strong><br />
I used to do freak shows, you know sticking ones penis in a mousetrap, that kinda thing. In the past I have made people gross out and a lot of people laugh, now the challenge is to create things that are beautiful and to get people dancing. Meanwhile I’m happy for people to giggle at CasioNova’s obsessions.</p>
<p><strong>And come on, what drives you crazy about Casios?</strong><br />
Flat batteries.</p>
<p><strong>Why and how should someone buy your latest CD?</strong><br />
I require a fare to Helsinki to challenge a fellow to a duel for the hand of a fair maiden and then I will live happily ever after. Also so the listener can marvel at how a bunch of home keyboards in the hands of nincompoop can actually sound pretty damn ok. Buy off me for $10, go to the website:<br />
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www.spatula-international.com.
Fringe Gig-Plug goes here:
My show is cooler than you think it could be.
Bar Open, Brunswick St, Fitzroy 9:20 PM Oct 9,10,11